Agnostic Skepticism- My Views

[robvalue]

But that's just it... "non-theist" includes people who have no belief either way just as much as people who believe gods are improbable or impossible. Non-theism includes everything other than theism. Literally.

Fair enough.

I credit your reasonableness

Like I said, someone literally quit the forum instead of accepting a difference in language was happening.

[Jesster]

I definitely like you better than the last person I encountered here who used that definition. You seem alright to me. Keep being you.

[robvalue]

I definitely like you better than the last person I encountered here who used that definition. You seem alright to me. Keep being you.

I agree! I hope you find a home here

I was just debating, I wasn't trying to be hostile. And I didn't take you as hostile either. I'm open to any kind of discussion, on any topic.

[RiddledWithFear]

Fair enough.

I credit your reasonableness

Like I said, someone literally quit the forum instead of accepting a difference in language was happening.

Wow. All because of a debate over a definition of a phrase. I don't intend to sound rude, but that's a bit sad, i.e. disappointing.

[robvalue]

Yeah, I agree, it is. A terrible shame.

[brewer]

[edit] also because she makes a valid point, [edit]

Hey Riddle. Read the whole thread and get your position but I noticed this in your original post. Who is she? Are you having this discussion with a significant person IRL?

Here is my position (simplistic as it may be) for calling myself an atheist. There is no evidence other than man made stories beginning in antiquity. Granted, they have worked and been convincing to millions of people for ages but are not a compelling enough argument/evidence for me to believe. How many stories that began in antiquity are still believed in? Flat earth? Earth centered universe? Beyond there be monsters? Gods are just one more hold over. If a theist can show me evidence I'll be willing to consider it. Several have tried but what they consider evidence is not compelling enough for me to believe.

Look, if people want to believe or don't want to believe or sometimes believe/sometimes not, I don't care. I do care when they insist that I should believe and if I don't there is something wrong with me.

[RiddledWithFear]

[edit] also because she makes a valid point, [edit]

Hey Riddle. Read the whole thread and get your position but I noticed this in your original post. Who is she? Are you having this discussion with a significant person IRL?

Here is my position (simplistic as it may be) for calling myself an atheist. There is no evidence other than man made stories beginning in antiquity. Granted, they have worked and been convincing to millions of people for ages but are not a compelling enough argument/evidence for me to believe. How many stories that began in antiquity are still believed in? Flat earth? Earth centered universe? Beyond there be monsters? Gods are just one more hold over. If a theist can show me evidence I'll be willing to consider it. Several have tried but what they consider evidence is not compelling enough for me to believe.

Look, if people want to believe or don't want to believe or sometimes believe/sometimes not, I don't care. I do care when they insist that I should believe and if I don't there is something wrong with me.

Right, yeah, I apologize, I had forgotten to link a video. I was nearly falling asleep. It was this.

[brewer]

Right, yeah, I apologize, I had forgotten to link a video. I was nearly falling asleep. It was this.

No worries.

[bennyboy]

I'm going to weigh in as another pure agnostic.

First of all, unless challenged by someone on my beliefs, I don't normally find it useful to declare those beliefs I lack. I'm not saying it's linguistically wrong, I just find it strange. I don't believe in Pegasus, but I wouldn't declare as an a-Pegasusist. Also, if merely lacking a belief makes someone an -ist, then my beagle is both an atheist AND an a-Pegasusist. So are my shoes.

Obviously, the term is meant in RESPONSE to something-- specifically pressure to accept Our Lord and Personal Savior, Jesus Christ™. In all cases where the God concept has been defined, I'd say I'm definitely a gnostic atheist. In cases where the God concept has not been well-defined, I'm an ignostic.

There's also the issue of the phrasing. If you ask me if I believe God does NOT exist, I also lack that belief, at least in general. To skew the default belief to one phrasing of what really is the same question seems a bit bullyish to me, and I don't like it.

There's also the issue of how we answer questions. Just because I have one name doesn't mean I can't be simultaneously considering or even holding contrary beliefs on some level. EVEN IF the question is well-formed, it's quite possible for me to be aware that parts of me lean one way or the other, and therefore be able to render a single response.

[RiddledWithFear]

I'm going to weigh in as another pure agnostic.

First of all, unless challenged by someone on my beliefs, I don't normally find it useful to declare those beliefs I lack. I'm not saying it's linguistically wrong, I just find it strange. I don't believe in Pegasus, but I wouldn't declare as an a-Pegasusist. Also, if merely lacking a belief makes someone an -ist, then my beagle is both an atheist AND an a-Pegasusist. So are my shoes.

Obviously, the term is meant in RESPONSE to something-- specifically pressure to accept Our Lord and Personal Savior, Jesus Christ™. In all cases where the God concept has been defined, I'd say I'm definitely a gnostic atheist. In cases where the God concept has not been well-defined, I'm an ignostic.

There's also the issue of the phrasing. If you ask me if I believe God does NOT exist, I also lack that belief, at least in general. To skew the default belief to one phrasing of what really is the same question seems a bit bullyish to me, and I don't like it.

There's also the issue of how we answer questions. Just because I have one name doesn't mean I can't be simultaneously considering or even holding contrary beliefs on some level. EVEN IF the question is well-formed, it's quite possible for me to be aware that parts of me lean one way or the other, and therefore be able to render a single response.

Fair point.